Hey Guys you made Sunday's paper

Canberran Socceroo fans in Bangkok

Thanks for coming together for the photo. Appreciate it. And I can tell you that you are in the Canberra Times today, Sunday.

Not sure if the story go in or not but here's what I sent through.

From the left:

Walnuts, Macca, Jozo, (All Tuggeranong United boys) Rod Lynes, Ian Price, Chris Conti, Kate Parker, Sean Blunt, Stephen Blunt, and Gordo with Koala.

When Socceroo and Canberran Carl Valeri looked up into the stands at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok on Sunday night he saw the symbol of the Canberra junior club he once played for amongst the Green and Gold Army.

“I was on the bench during the Oman game and I thought I recognised the symbol. Then I read Tuggeranong United. It was awesome, really inspiring.”

Walnut, Macca, Jozo and Gordo, as the lads are known are all Tuggeranong United players following the Socceroos Asian Cup adventure in Bangkok. Gordo carries his cuddly good luck charm, Koala, with him to games.

“Koala was at the World Cup in Germany so I thought he should come here as well.”

Rod Lynes, ANU Technical Director wanted to see the Socceoos first venture into the Asia Cup.

“I’ve been to four World Cup’s including Germany. Playing in Asia allows us to engage with Asian countries on a number of levels. The other day we were playing football on the beach with a group of Omani’s. Which other sports code enables that.”

Kate Parker had seen her parents go to Germany last year.

“They love the Socceroos and when they asked me if I like to come this time, I jumped at the chance.”

The group were in good spirits before the Iraq game. All were confident of victory.

Sean Blunt had been watching the Oman game which ended in a 1-1 draw with a late equalizer from Tim Cahill.

Sitting at home in Belconnen he thought, “These guys need all the support they can get. Wouldn’t it be great if I could get over? I got the last seat on the plane, and here I am.”

Australia plays Thailand in their last group game on Monday night 10:30AEST. If Australia win and Iraq draw or beat Oman, Australia and Thailand will both have four points. The team who won the game (in this scenario Australia) between these two sides will go through.

Kate Parker said “I’m booked through to the final. So I hope the Aussies make it.”

Match Analyis: Canberra Times

My article below first appeared in the Canberra Times.

Dismal Aussies saved by Cahill.

Tim Cahill, a man with an eye for goal, saved Australia again in Bangkok last night. Socceroos Coach Graham Arnold’s substitutions forced the change in a game Australia looked destined to lose, but there weren’t too many positives for Australia in this game

The storm clouds grew darker and darker in monsoonal Bangkok last night as the Socceroos lacked the creativity and firepower to break a stubborn and talented Oman.

In truth Oman didn’t have to do much as the Australians produced a dismal performance.

In the World Cup last year Coach Guus Hiddink introduced a mobile style of football to the Socceroos game. The game centered around one striker, Mark Viduka. A five man midfield covered any defensive frailties. And Australia earned great success.

Last night Arnold, perhaps believing the hype around the quality of this Australian team, went for two forwards, thereby weakening the midfield, and exposing the new Socceroos defence.

Despite this new attacking potential, no real chance was created in the first half, and worryingly Mark Viduka looked out of sorts up front despite having Harry Kewell playing alongside for the opening 20 minutes.

Midfielders Vince Grella and Jason Culina were unable to control the centre of the field and as a result Oman was able to dictate the flow of the game with their quick incisive passing.

Ominously for the Socceroos chances of Asian Cup glory, Oman ripped through the heart of the new Socceroos defence, much the same as Singapore had done in the previous friendly. Oman pulled key defenders Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton all over the place and Al-Maimani could not have believed the amount of time and space he had to finish from inside the box. And finish he did

Arnold introduced John Aloisi, Tim Cahill and later Brett Holman as Australia pushed for the equalizer.

A Hiddink like strategy again proving successful for Australia and Arnold.

Positives for Australia were few. Aloisi’s energy and Mark Schwarzer perhaps the only standouts. And of course late on, a fit again, Tim Cahill. If Arnold got the starting format wrong his ability to force change was a positive. The negatives were many.

Australia started the game very slowly at the Rajamangala stadium. A big mistake. Going a goal behind in the heat of Bangkok is a hard task for any side, not least an Aussie side lacking pace and creativity.

Australia can only get better, and they must, if they are to have any hope of winning this tournament.

Match Analysis: Australia v Oman

This match analysis first appeared in the Canberra Times:

Tim Cahill, a man with an eye for goal, saved Australia again in Bangkok last night. Socceroos Coach Graham Arnold’s substitutions forced the change in a game Australia looked destined to lose, but there weren’t too many positives for Australia in this game.

The storm clouds grew darker and darker in monsoonal Bangkok last night as the Socceroos lacked the creativity and firepower to break a stubborn and talented Oman.

In truth Oman didn’t have to do much as the Australians produced a dismal performance.
In the World Cup last year Coach Guus Hiddink introduced a mobile style of football to the Socceroos game. The game centered around one striker, Mark Viduka. A five man midfield covered any defensive frailties. And Australia earned great success.

Last night Arnold, perhaps believing the hype around the quality of this Australian team, went for two forwards, thereby weakening the midfield, and exposing the new Socceroos defence.

Despite this new attacking potential, no real chance was created in the first half, and worryingly Mark Viduka looked out of sorts up front despite having Harry Kewell playing alongside for the opening 20 minutes.

Midfielders Vince Grella and Jason Culina were unable to control the centre of the field and as a result Oman was able to dictate the flow of the game with their quick incisive passing.

Ominously for the Socceroos chances of Asian Cup glory, Oman ripped through the heart of the new Socceroos defence, much the same as Singapore had done in the previous friendly. Oman pulled key defenders Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton all over the place and Al-Maimani could not have believed the amount of time and space he had to finish from inside the box. And finish he did

Arnold introduced John Aloisi, Tim Cahill and later Brett Holman as Australia pushed for the equalizer.

A Hiddink like strategy again proving successful for Australia and Arnold.
Positives for Australia were few. Aloisi’s energy and Mark Schwarzer perhaps the only standouts. And of course late on, a fit again, Tim Cahill. If Arnold got the starting format wrong his ability to force change was a positive. The negatives were many.

Australia started the game very slowly at the Rajamangala stadium. A big mistake. Going a goal behind in the heat of Bangkok is a hard task for any side, not least an Aussie side lacking pace and creativity.

Australia can only get better, and they must, if they are to have any hope of winning this tournament.

Match Analysis: Socceroos v Singapore

This match analysis first appeared in the Canberra Times:

Can Australian win their first ever Asia Cup? Well if, the golden boys of Australian football, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka perform to their best then the chances are good.

Australia defeated Singapore 3-0 on Saturday night in The National Stadium of Singapore, in their last International before their opening Asia Cup game against Oman on Sunday.

Singapore are ranked 146th in the world but they caused Australia’s new defence plenty of problems. They hit the bar and post before Australia scored and had a couple of further clear-cut chances which should give Socceroos coach Graham Arnold some sleepless nights before next week’s opening game.

Hopes in Australia are high after their exciting World Cup campaign in Germany last year. Many fans expect Australia to win at a canter. They won’t.

Defensively the Socceroos have a new line-up and it’s not settled. Brett Emerton will play right back. He has played there before for Feyenoord some years ago, but he often drifts out of position when defending. Craig Moore will be replaced by Leicester City’s Patrick Kisnorbo or FC Nurnberg’s Michael Beauchamp. Neither are the finished article in international football. Lucas Neill stands out, but with the left back position still undecided there is plenty there for opponents to exploit and they will.

Former Coach Guus Hiddink’s favourite midfielder Luke Wilkshire played left-back against Singapore. Michael Thwaites, who plays his football in Poland, was left-back against Uruguay. Neither is naturally left footed nor looks completely comfortable when defending.

Wilshire supports the forwards better than Thwaites does, but with Scott Chipperfield’s non-attendance at this tournament, Australia has lost a dynamic option to their attacking play.

Australia’s first opponents, Oman and Iraq, both have quick wide players. Singapore could and should have been two nil up before Australia scored last night. Better teams may not allow Australia to play themselves into the game.

In the World Cup, crisp incisive passing by Australia caused Brazil, and Italy problems. Singapore was rarely troubled in the first half.

There were good signs. Midfield general Vince Grella looked sharp and composed on the ball. Brett Holman looked lively and had the best opportunities in the first-half.

But if Kewell is fit, and on last night’s form he looks close, he is capable of making a major contribution to Australia’s historic Asian Cup campaign. He scored one and produced a marvellous moment to provide for Viduka.

Significantly Viduka, with only 6 goals from 38 internationals before Saturday’s game, scored two.

He couldn’t score in the World Cup against defences of the quality of Brazil and Italy, but he should score in Asia. Asia is not the World Cup and Viduka at least in the early stages should get many opportunities to increase his tally.

Big players win big games. Kewell and Viduka are the best footballers Australia has ever produced. With the golden boys firing Australia can win the Asian Cup.
It won’t be easy and with the heat restricting Australia’s mobile style of play the slow slow quick tempo of many Asian teams will severely test the Socceroos unstable defence.

Australia lifted when Kewell came on. And maybe in the early games Kewell will be used sparingly.

Saturday’s workout will have given Coach Graham Arnold much to ponder, particularly his defensive frailties.

So Harry's brilliant, but what about that defence.

Australia smashed Singapore, ranked 146th in the world I might add, 3-0.

Harry Kewell is back. Mark Viduka scored twice. With the golden boys of Australian football firing we can win in Asia. Can't we?

What do you mean the defence is vulnerable. Brett Emerton trying to remember his Feyenoord days from five years ago, Luke Wilkshire a right midfielder turned left back and Paddy Kisnorbo a player still learning at this level.

Singapore should have been two up at half time. Not my thoughts, Arnies.

And if they were 2-0 up, Harry or no Harry we'd have lost.

Chasing the game in the heat willl be no fun for spectators never mind the players.

But forget the defence, goals win games. And Viduka will score in Asia. After all it isn't the World Cup. Brazil Italy and Croatia are a tougher nut to crack than Thailand Oman and Iraq. Aren't they?

They'd better be, because I want to see Australia reach the final and win. Australia to win in their first Asian Cup.

How Johhny Warren would love this day.

So if Harry and Dukes remain fit and score a potload, we'll win. And they'll have to because there is no way that defence can remain goal free on last night's showing.

Come on Australia, let's forget the defence and give it to Harry!

Read a more considered analysis in Monday's Canberra Times.